Patrick Graham finally leaves Las Vegas Raiders

Despite wild and constant change in recent years, defensive coordinator Patrick Graham has been a constant for the Las Vegas.

That is no longer the case. According to multiple reports, Graham has agreed to become the defensive coordinator of the Pittsburgh Steelers, which has been expected in recent days.

So, the Raiders will have a new defensive coordinator the first time since 2021, who will be brought be whoever becomes the next head coach. Graham, 46, has been the Raiders' defensive coordinator since 2022 when he was brought in by Josh McDaniels. Graham was retained by Antonio Pierce in 2024 and by Pete Carroll in 2025. It is very rare for an assistant to last three regimes with a franchise.

Graham did not give the Raiders' next head coach a change to retain him.

It's understandable that Graham was ready for a new challenge. He is a well-respected coach (who had gotten some head-coaching interviews in the past two hiring cycles). He needed a fresh start and now he gets it.